Opinion Unwelcome memory

being responsible for the current policy blockade (‘Govt to talk to Mamata Banerjee on Pension Bill’,IE,June 12). The need for reforms like the pension bill,FDI in retail,etc,are merely talked about by the Congress. If the government can’t take such important decisions in the current moment of crisis,why is the Congress so keen to remain in charge of the country?

— Nishant Pattebahadur

Amravati

Question the paper

THIS refers to ‘CBSE XII exam to be rejigged to test “thought”,not rote’ (IE,June 7). The CBSE has,by and large,made this exercise of reviewing and restructuring question papers of Class X and XII an annual feature. The problem generally starts every year after the declaration of Class X/XII results. Last year,there was a national debate on redesigning question papers. When such changes are brought about,the interest of the students and teachers must be looked into. Four or five senior lecturers of each subject from different states should be involved and their suggestions/inputs must be given due attention.

— Arun Kumar Sharma

Mohali

Flights of fancy

The editorial ‘Earthy fantasy’ (IE,June 8),within its brief compass,gave a moving account of Ray Bradbury’s oeuvre,highlighting the characteristics of his works that place them far above the junk science fiction that the editorial rightly called a “pulp ghetto”. His books remind us that we all have a profound need to take occasional flights to the world of fantasy,amid our dreary daily lives. Likewise,this editorial offered a refreshing change from the usual,interminable discussions of politics and the economy.

— Somjit Datta

Pune

Count them in

APROPOS ‘Govt gives in to demand,works on quota for Jats’ (IE,June 10),I am dismayed to read that the “Jat Baseline Survey” will be conducted in UP,HP,MP,Rajasthan,Haryana and Gujarat but not in Punjab,which houses one of the largest Jat populations in the country. The Jats of Punjab are Sikhs and could well be around 35 per cent of the total population. It would be injustice and discrimination if they are left out of this survey.

— Baldev Singh

Kapurthala